Ugandan Airforce Delivers Lifesaving Aid as Famine Ravages War-Torn South Sudan

Juba , 29 May 2025

In a dramatic show of regional solidarity and military precision, the Uganda People’s Defence Air Force (UPDAF) has executed a high-stakes humanitarian operation in the skies over South Sudan, delivering hundreds of metric tonnes of emergency food aid to desperate communities trapped by conflict and famine in Upper Nile State.

Amid renewed fighting between government forces and tribal militias loyal to the imprisoned Vice President Riek Machar, thousands of civilians have been displaced,many forced into makeshift camps in Ulang and Nasir Counties, where starvation looms large.

The humanitarian airlift, carried out in coordination with international aid agencies, originates from Juba International Airport, where pallets of rice, beans, maize flour, and therapeutic food are loaded onto Ugandan military aircraft under tight security. Once airborne, UPDAF pilots navigate hostile airspace to drop the lifesaving supplies deep inside contested territory.

According to military sources, the areas receiving aid are under de facto control of the SPLA-IO—an ethnic Nuer militia colloquially known as the White Army—accused of orchestrating brutal massacres targeting Dinka civilians and other ethnic groups.

Uganda’s broader involvement in South Sudan began in March 2025, when the government in Juba requested military assistance.

The UPDF swiftly deployed an expeditionary force to secure critical infrastructure in the capital and provide tactical support to South Sudanese forces.

“Uganda will not sit idle while a neighbor burns,” said Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information, in a statement.

“The humanitarian crisis is real. Children are dying, families are being torn apart, and we have the means to help. This mission is about saving lives—and sending a message that regional cooperation matters.”

Colonel Magezi confirmed that the UPDF continues to support rear security operations in Juba, where relative calm has returned. As a result, foreign embassies have reopened, trade routes are active again, and economic activity is slowly regaining momentum.

Still, the specter of tribal warfare hangs heavy over South Sudan’s northern reaches, and the task of ensuring long-term peace remains daunting. For now, though, the thunder of Ugandan aircraft over the skies of Upper Nile brings more than just food—it brings hope.